Lukas Ernst has been located, and the Gold Alert has been canceled.
POLICE ACTIVITY IN THE CASTLEBROOK APARTMENTS AREA(550 S. DuPont Highway, Building I – New Castle, DE)
UPDATE As of 6:35 a.m., there is no threat to the public, and this is an isolated incident. The roads have reopened; however, residents can expect to see a police presence in the area as officers continue their investigation.
Officers from the New Castle County Division of Police are currently conducting an active investigation in the area of 550 S. DuPont Highway, Building I, within the Castlebrook Apartments community.
Residents and motorists should expect a significant police presence, road closures, and traffic disruptions in the surrounding area. In addition, bus routes servicing the area may be temporarily diverted, which could impact normal transportation schedules.
The Division’s Crisis Management Group has responded and is on scene.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. Updates will be provided when they become available.
Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival Scam Alert
We have been made aware of a scam targeting individuals and businesses related to the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival. It has been reported that individuals are receiving emails falsely claiming to recruit vendors for the event while requesting full upfront payment.
Please be advised: this is a scam attempt. The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival is NOT currently accepting vendor applications, as all vendor spaces are FULL
For official information about the 2026 Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival, please see the link below
If you receive one of these messages or any suspicious email in general, please remember:
❌ Do NOT click any links
🚫 Do NOT share personal or payment information
🗑️ Delete the message immediately
📢 Warn others so they don’t fall victim as well
If you believe you were affected by this scam, please contact us on our non-emergency number, 302-573-2800, or call 911.
